Columella, The Sadie Family Wines 2006

Dark and alluring, with currant paste, fig sauce and dark plum notes that glide over rich but fine-grained tannins. Hints of mesquite, melted licorice and bittersweet ganache fill out the finish. Has plenty of length and concentration. This should fill out with moderate cellaring. Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2009 through 2015. 738 cases made.

Quite deep colour, more purple tones. An expressive nose, all high drama and swirling liquorice and cassis and molasses. Thick, almost chunky tannins – more rugby prop than gymnast. A very bold, dramatic wine with quite a meaty, Bovril core and poached plum flavours. Cloves and dried sage, thyme, linger on the finish. Certainly robust and complex and woven as richly as velvet drapes in a castle stateroom. Just perhaps not quite as vibrant and fresh as some of the other Columella vintages. Drink between 2011-2018.